(Newser)
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If you're planning a flight longer than eight hours, Delta Air Lines says you can't bring an emotional-support animal with you. The rules for pups are getting tighter, too. Neither support animals nor trained service animals will be allowed on any Delta flights if they are under 4 months old. Delta says the changes take effect Dec. 18. The airline says exceptions will be made until Feb. 1 for customers who already bought a ticket and asked to bring a support animal, the AP reports.

Airlines are tightening rules on animals, saying their numbers have skyrocketed and some have relieved themselves or bitten other animals—and in one case, a Delta passenger. People who fill out the forms to travel with a support animal avoid pet-carriage fees. "These updates support Delta's commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs—such as veterans with disabilities—to travel with trained service and support animals," says Delta exec John Laughter. (Earlier this year, United Airlines rejected an emotional support peacock.)

True support animals are trained and well behaved. Just because you purchase an ESA certificate online does not make your pet qualified. It's about time the airlines are drawing a line on the subject.

jansav

Dec 11, 2018 4:29 PM CST

Good.

Sara Lyn

Dec 11, 2018 11:50 AM CST

Good. It's about time they started actually cracking down on this chit.... I am 100% on board with actual trained service animals accompanying those truly disabled folks or vets with PTSD... the rest of you will literally NOT DIE if you have to put FiFi in a crate in the cargo area. Gimme a break. Enough is enough. Snowflake Syndrome.